I Heard the Lord Say,

“Count the Cost”.

When God speaks people should listen. There is a law of “Cause and Effect” God does not cause everything to happen. He has more to do with effect than cause. Effect has more to do with a response that is triggered by a cause. A cause rarely stands alone – it functions much like a magnet drawing things.

Surely the Lord is speaking! He is warning us how quickly our present (cause) can change into our future (effect). Be careful what you cause. Be careful what you draw! The Law of Cause and Effect brings about a change. Carefully study motive, need, desire, greed, selfishness, and rebellion. All these things trigger Effect. What have you drawn because of neglecting to Count the Cost?

Example of Cause and Effect

When a person gets thirsty it causes him to draw water from the well. The well depends on rain to maintain its status. The bucket is lowered into the well whenever a need for water arises. It has not rained for a year. The bucket goes down into the well and hits rock bottom – no rain no water. The person gets busy praying asking God for rain. The Lord then effects a change by allowing rain to replenish the well. Man depends on the mercy of God even for water.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:9-10

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:3-5

Counting the Cost of Water

• Did he use water wisely
• Did he share water with his neighbors
• Did he give water to a weary traveler
• Did he praise and thank God for the water daily

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Luke 14:26-35